When people ask me what is the best and fastest way to learn German I reply that the #1 thing they’ll need to succeed with German has actually little to do with the language but a lot with their attitude and commitment to a consistent learning routine.
So you might have the best resources, best material and best tools in the world but none of them will take you much further if YOU don’t do the work.
Language learning is a long-term project so the sooner you get into a consistent learning routine the faster you’ll see results.
I’d like to show you an example of a Pro language learner, so you see an “ideal” version of what I mean with commitment, consistency and taking action towards your goals.
Of course that this is an extreme example. You don’t want to learn 20 or 30 languages (maybe just German for now :-)) or become a polyglot, but feel encouraged to see that even for a Pro it takes time, dedication and effort.
So, I recommend you from the beginning to stick to a daily learning routine. Not to learn once a week for a couple of hours but EVERY DAY for a little bit (at least from Monday to Friday).
This way it will sooner become a habit for you and you’ll reach a point where your learning will feel automatic like when you brush your teeth or you take a shower where you don’t even think about the process anymore. You just do it.
Here are 4 great techniques I recommend you to stick to a daily learning routine so you can make it into an automatic habit.
1. The 25-minute pomodoro technique
The “pomodoro technique” is a great, simple learning technique you might already know. If not, here’s a video so you get to know the principle: the pomodoro technique (video).
It’s really powerful because it makes you shift between focus and diffused learning mode.
This gives your brain the necessary time to recover and reenergize.
Imagine doing 1000 push-ups. You can’t do this without pausing and giving your muscles time to recover in between.
The same is true for brain activity and learning.
Here are 7 rules I want you to follow during the 25 minutes:
- You can drink water or coffee
- You can stare out the window, or at the wall
- You can sit and do absolutely nothing for 25 minutes
- You can do the exercises
- You can not leave the chair for any reason
- You can not do anything else
- After the 25 minutes give yourself a reward that you genuinely enjoy (eat a piece of chocolate, take a cup of coffee, browse through the internet or just look this hilarious funny German video to stay motivated :-))
Start with just one pomodoro (25 minutes) per day.
Here’s your action step:
- Go to your calendar NOW and set your next 25 minutes of your learning routine
(Tip: You can use this free app as a pomodoro timer and to keep track of your pomodoros.)
2. Start with Tiny Habits
If the pomodore technique seems too overwhelming and just the thought of sitting for 25 minutes to learn German makes you feel guilty because you think you should do it but you don’t feel like, I recommend you to start with the “tiny habit” routine.
Watch this video of Dr. Fogg to learn more about the “Tiny habits”.
So instead of starting with 25 minutes, start with the tiniest step you can imagine. So not 25 minutes but just 1 minute. Or not even 1 minute but 1 exercise.
And try to do it after something you’re used to doing. For example:
- After I had my morning coffee, I will learn for 1 minute.
- After I arrive at home and take off my clothes, I will do 1 exercise.
Start with a small tiny habit and you’ll see that with time it will grow on its own and become automatic.
Here’s your action step:
3. Consistency is key: Don’t break the chain
One great way to keep momentum of your daily habit and learning routine without stopping or interrupting it is using the “Don’t break the chain” technique of the world famous comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Watch this video to learn more about the “Don’t break the chain” technique.
So each day that you succeed doing your 25 minutes pomodoro or your tiny habit, mark a cross on your calendar and start making your chain longer without breaking it.
Here’s your action step:
- Choose one calendar you can use to start building your learning chain
(Tip: You can use this free app (for apple phones) or this one (for android) to help you keep track of your daily habbits.)
4. Hold yourself accountable and dare to change
If you notice after 1 or 2 weeks that you can’t commit to any of the previous techniques because you tend to always procrastinate, then you need to take it one step further and hold yourself DANGEROUSLY accountable :-)
The problem is here not any more to know WHAT to do or HOW to do it, it’s about COMMITTING, TAKING ACTION AND DOING IT!
STICKK is a free goal-setting platform created by behavioral economists at Yale University. It’s a simple app that will help you define a goal and commit to achieving it. Get here all the details.
Some book recommendations
Let me give you some book recommendations in case you want to dig deeper on topics like habits and focused work/learning.
You can find the books easily on amazon or any online bookstore. And you can get it as audiobooks for example on Audible and listen to it while commuting to work :-)
The Power of Habits: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
The book will show you why some people struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World from Cal Newport.
It’s so far the best book I’ve read on understanding why it’s nowadays so easy to get distracted, so challenging to do focused work and tasks and how to overcome this in order to succeed with your goals.